12 Days of Christmas Eve

Morning, Barry.

("It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year")

Mm, mm, mm.

Wow.

Merry Christmas Eve, Santa.

- Oh, right back atcha, Miss Naughty and Nice.

- Are we still on for lunch, today?

I'll definitely try.

La Petit Maison, one o'clock.

It took me months to snag the reservation.

Let's not waste it.

Okay.

Okay.

Good luck, today.

- Luck's got nothin' to do with it.

Hm.

Good morning, Mr. Carter.

Morning, Mr. Carter.

Harry.

It's Barry.

Hello, Marilynn.

Calvin, you promised.

You promised you weren't going to work today.

Hey, it's not my fault.

The Latin American Commerce Commission--

I don't want your excuses.

- Well, hey, I didn't know they were gonna send

one of their representatives today,

but they did.

They bark, I jump, my dear ex-wife.

- You don't jump when anyone barks.

Oh, well, excuse me for trying

to close the biggest deal of my life.

Eric is singing at 2:30.

You be there.

What's wrong?

Nothing is wrong.

Except I needed a kiss.

And, it looks like something's come up for your daddy,

so, I'm thinking he might not be able to make it.

I don't care.

It's Christmas Eve.

He can't expect me to work all day.

We're gonna see Santa, Daddy.

He's a lucky guy, Morgan.

Why aren't you coming with us.

I got work to do.

And it's because of that work

that Daddy's able to take such good care of us.

That's right.

Can I tell Santa

what you want for Christmas, Daddy?

A day off would be nice.

- Look, I don't want anything for Christmas.

I got everything I need right here, 'kay?

- You better get in there before Calvin throws a fit.

All right.

- Well, let's not keep Santa waiting.

Here you go.

Bye, guys.

Bye.

Well, bye!

- Drew? - Calvin.

Who'd they send?

- Isabelle Freyas, VP, International Markets.

From Brazil.

How's your Spanish?

Brazillians speak Portuguese.

- And she's on her way to Sao Paulo from?

- New York, where she was meeting with the CEOs

of Nothing over 97 Cents--

Sao Paulo.

And Bargain Guys.

- Why on earth is she wasting her time

with those losers, huh?

Sao Paulo!

Repeat after me.

Sao.

Sao.

Pau.

Pau.

Lo.

What are we thinking, Drew?

- Failure is not an option.

- Yes, and what are we gonna be doing

to our competition, Drew?

We're gonna bury 'em.

- Let's start digging their graves.

Right.

Morning, Stacy.

She's here.

What?

Well, her plane was early.

- Did you get the coffee and fruit?

All set up.

Coffee and fruit?

Are you kidding me, is that the best we could do?

- It's the Brazillian breakfast of choice.

Huh, perfect.

Can we sent Stacy home?

Oh, absolutely not.

What if we need more coffee and fruit?

Mr. Carter.

Please, it's Calvin.

Isabelle Frias.

- Ah, it's so nice to finally meet you.

This is my executive assistant, Drew Quinn.

Drew, Miss Frias.

Hello.

- It's so kind of you both to meet with me

such short notice.

And on Christmas Eve.

- Well, we would meet with you any time, any where.

Eye on the prize, that's our motto.

That's right.

- This breakfast is marvelous, by the way.

Oh.

- On a day when I should be with my family,

it makes me feel right at home.

Well, I hoped it would.

So, let me tell you a little bit about our company.

It's a classic mom and pop store.

It started off with a dozen bobby pins,

some shoelaces, and a real American work ethic.

- You know all the words to your song?

No?

Come on.

No.

Aw, come on, honey.

I'm late for school.

Okay, you'll do fine.

Oh, hey, it snowed last.

Hey, Grandpa.

Hey, grandpa.

- Actually, Dad, it snowed a few days ago.

Oh, I knew that.

But I do know that today is Christmas eve.

And you know what that means, kids.

Party!

Yeah, our world-famous party.

Candy canes!

Aw.

Just the oatmeal and--

Uh, Dad?

Dad.

I'm sure everybody at the store

would understand if you couldn't hand out the canes today.

It's a tradition.

We're doing it.

You're the boss.

Don't you forget it, okay?

- Our industry-leading margins give our investors

a more competitive return for their money.

Now as we expand into Latin America,

we're gonna be looking for equity investors

to combine our margin expertise with local purchasing power.

I like your sell, Mr. Carter.

I've read your business plan.

I wouldn't be here if I didn't think you

had tremendous potential.

Oh, it's beyond tremendous.

Beyond.

- But I didn't take a detour on my way home

so you could tell me face-to-face what I already know.

You took your failing family business--

- In Chapter 11 the day I took over from my father.

In the black a year after that.

- And turned it into one of the biggest discount chains

in America.

- As of last quarter, number two and climbing.

We have a saying in Brazil,

Better alone than in bad company.

To understand your company, I need to understand you,

to see for Latin America, you will be good company.

Oh.

Anything you'd like.

I'm all yours.

I want to visit your stores,

get to know what's special about you and your world.

Absolutely.

How much time have you got?

- My flight isn't until nine tonight.

- Well, here it is, our flagship store,

where it all began.

Quaint.

Calvin?

Calvin, how long are you gonna need me today?

Until we're done.

But it's Christmas Eve.

- Eye on the prize, Drew.

A failure is not an option.

- Ho, ho, slow up, big brother, slow up.

Calvin!

Calvin?

Hey!

What a nice surprise!

Hey.

- Dad's gonna be so pleased to see you.

Great, great.

- Hey, good to see you, Drew.